Third hantavirus death linked to Yosemite National Park

A West Virginia resident is the third person to die from the rare hantavirus after staying at Yosemite National Park this summer, officials announced Thursday, as they raised to 22,000 the number of people who might have been exposed.

All told, eight people have contracted the mouse-borne disease after spending one or more nights at the popular park since June 10.

Seven of the infected people, including all who died, stayed in the "signature" tent cabins in Curry Village. The park service closed all 91 of those cabins last week while it investigates how to protect the public.

The remaining infected person stayed in several of Yosemite's High Sierra camps. Park employees are now attempting to contact the nearly 12,000 people who visited those areas this summer and urge them to seek immediate care if they develop symptoms, park ranger Scott Gediman said.

Park officials have also been seeking to get in touch with the 10,000 people from around the world who may have been exposed to the deadly virus by staying in the signature tent cabins since mid-June.

It can take up to six weeks for symptoms to develop. People initially may feel like they are getting the flu with fatigue, fever, chills and muscle aches. But after a few days, their health may deteriorate rapidly.

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The disease is typically spread through the droppings or urine of infected deer mice.

The person who stayed in the High Sierra area "exhibited very mild symptoms," Gediman said. "He never was hospitalized, and he recovered."

That person stayed in tent cabins at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, Merced Lake Camp, Sunrise High Sierra Camp and Vogelsang Camp, Gediman said. He also did some backpacking.

In addition to the West Virginia resident, others who died included a 37-year-old Alameda County man and a Pennsylvania resident.

The five who are recovering from the disease were all California residents. But because Yosemite has so many international visitors, the park service has put out a worldwide alert for doctors to be on the lookout for cases.

The signature tent cabins that have been the focal point of the investigation into how the disease is spreading have a double-walled design. The park decided to close those cabins before the busy Labor Day weekend after finding evidence of mouse activity in the gaps between the walls.

Some people have been canceling reservations to visit the park after hearing about the outbreak, but both the Ahwahnee and Yosemite Lodge were sold out over the Labor Day weekend, Gediman said.

A phone line set up for people to ask questions -- 209-372-0822 -- has been receiving 200 to 500 calls a day. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Since hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was identified in 1993, about 60 cases have been reported in California and 602 nationally.